Chapter 5: Acid-Base Balance and Electrolytes

Question 1

A nurse is reviewing lab reports. The nurse recalls blood plasma is located in which of the following fluid compartments?
A.) Intracellular fluid (ICF)
B.) Extracellular fluid (ECF)
C.) Interstitial fluid
D.) Intravascular fluid

Answer 1

D.) Intravascular fluid

Question 2

A 35-year-old male weighs 70kg. Approximately how much of this weight is considered that total volume of body water?
A.) 5L
B.) 10L
C.) 28L
D.) 42L

Answer 2

D.) 42L

Question 3

While planning care for elderly individuals, the nurse remembers the elderly are at a higher risk for developing dehydration because they have:
A.) A higher total body water volume
B.) Decreased muscle mass
C.) Increased thirst
D.) An increased tendency toward developing edema

Answer 3

B.) Decreased muscle mass

Question 4

Which of the following patients should the nurse assess for decreased oncotic pressure in the capillaries? A patient with:
A.). a high-protein diet.
B.) liver failure.
C.) low blood pressure.
D.) low blood glucose.

Answer 4

B.) Liver failure

Question 5

Water movement between the ICF and ECF compartments is determined by:
a. osmotic forces.
b. plasma oncotic pressure.
c. antidiuretic hormone.
d. buffer systems.

Answer 5

a. osmotic forces

Question 6

n experiment was designed to test the effects of the Starling forces on fluid movement. Which of the following alterations would result in fluid moving into the interstitial space?
A.) Increased capillary oncotic pressure
B.) Decreased interstitial hydrostatic pressure
C.) Decreased capillary hydrostatic pressure
D.) Increased interstitial oncotic pressure

Answer 6

D.) Increased interstitial oncotic pressure

Question 7

When planning care for a dehydrated patient, the nurse remembers that the principle of water balance is closely related to the balance of:
a. potassium.
b. chloride.
c. bicarbonate.
d. sodium.

Answer 7

d. sodium

Question 8

A 70-year-old male with chronic renal failure presents with edema. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this condition?
a. Increased capillary oncotic pressure.
b. Decreased interstitial oncotic pressure.
c. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure.
d. Increased interstitial hydrostatic pressure.

Answer 8

C. increased capillary hydrostatic pressure

Question 9

A 10-year-old male is brought to the emergency room (ER) incoherent and semiconscious. CT scan reveals that he is suffering from cerebral edema. This type of edema is referred to as:
a. localized edema.
b. generalized edema.
c. pitting edema.
d. lymphedema.

Answer 9

a. localized edema

Question 10

A nurse is teaching the staff about antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Which information should the nurse include? Secretion of ADH is stimulated by:
a. increased serum potassium.
b. increased plasma osmolality.
c. decreased renal blood flow.
d. generalized edema.

Answer 10

b. increased plasma osmolarity

Question 11

Which statement by the staff indicates teaching was successful concerning aldosterone? Secretion of aldosterone results in:
a. decreased plasma osmolality.
b. increased serum potassium levels.
c. increased blood volume.
d. localized edema.

Answer 11

c. increased blood volume

Question 12

A 25-year-old male is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting tumor of the adrenal cortex. Which finding would the nurse expect to see in the lab results?
a. Decreased blood volume
b. Decreased blood K+ levels
c. Increased urine Na+ levels
d. Increased white blood cells

Answer 12

b. decreased blood K+ levels

Question 13

A patient has been searching on the Internet about natriuretic hormones. When the patient asks the nurse what these hormones do, how should the nurse respond? Natriuretic hormones affect the balance of:
a. calcium
b. sodium
c. magnesium
d. potassium

Answer 13

b. sodium

Question 14

A 5-year-old male presents to the ER with delirium and sunken eyes. After diagnosing him with severe dehydration, the primary care provider orders fluid replacement. The nurse administers a hypertonic intravenous solution. Which of the following would be expected?
a. symptoms subside quickly
b. increased ICF volume
c. decreased ECF volume
d. intracellular dehydration

Answer 14

d. intracellular dehydration

Question 15

Which of the following patients is the most at risk for developing hypernatremia? A patient with:
a. vomiting.
b. diuretic use.
c. dehydration.
d. hypoaldosteronism.

Answer 15

c. dehydration

Question 16

Which of the following conditions would cause the nurse to monitor for hyperkalemia?
a. Excess aldosterone
b. Acute acidosis
c. Insulin usage
d. Metabolic alkalosis

Answer 16

b. acute acidosis

Question 17

Which organ system should the nurse monitor when the patient has long-term potassium deficits?
a. Central nervous system (CNS)
b. Lungs
c. Kidneys
d. Gastrointestinal tract

Answer 17

c. kidneys

Question 18

A 42-year-old female presents to her primary care provider reporting muscle weakness and cardiac abnormalities. Laboratory tests indicate that she is hypokalemic. Which of the following could be the cause of her condition?
a. Respiratory acidosis
b. Constipation
c. Hypoglycemia
d. Laxative abuse

Answer 18

d. laxative abuse

Question 19

A 19-year-old male presents to his primary care provider reporting restlessness, muscle cramping, and diarrhea. Lab tests reveal that he is hyperkalemic. Which of the following could have caused his condition?
a. Primary hyperaldosteronism
b. Acidosis
c. Insulin secretion
d. Diuretic use

Answer 19

b. acidosis

Question 20

A 60-year-old female is diagnosed with hyperkalemia. Which assessment finding should the nurse expect to observe?
a. weak pulse
b. excessive thirst
c. oliguria
d. constipation

Answer 20

c. oliguria

Question 21

Which of the following buffer pairs is considered the major plasma buffering system?
a. Protein/fat
b. Carbonic acid/bicarbonate
c. Sodium/potassium
d. Amylase/albumin

Answer 21

b. carbonic acid/ biocarbonate

Question 22

A nurse recalls that regulation of acid-base balance through removal or retention of volatile acids is accomplished by the:
a. buffer systems.
b. skin.
c. lungs.
d. liver

Answer 22

c. lungs

Question 23

Which patient is most prone to metabolic alkalosis? A patient with:
a. retention of metabolic acids.
b. hypoaldosteronism.
c. excessive loss of chloride (Cl).
d. hyperventilation.

Answer 23

c. excessive loss of chloride (Cl)

Question 24

Which patient should the nurse assess for both hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis? A patient diagnosed with:
a. diabetes insipidus.
b. pulmonary disorders.
c. Cushing syndrome.
d. renal failure.

Answer 24

d. renal failure

Question 25

For a patient experiencing metabolic acidosis, the body will compensate by:
a. excreting H+ through the kidneys.
b. hyperventilating.
c. retaining CO2 in the lungs.
d. secreting aldosterone.

Answer 25

b. hyperventilating

Question 26

Which finding would support the diagnosis of respiratory acidosis?
a. Vomiting
b. Hyperventilation
c. Pneumonia
d. An increase in noncarbonic acids

Answer 26

c. pneumonia

Question 27

27. A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness, shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased CO2, and normal bicarbonate ion. These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of:
    a. respiratory alkalosis.
    b. metabolic acidosis.
    c. respiratory acidosis.
    d. metabolic alkalosis.

Answer 27

c. respiratory acidosis

Question 28

For a patient with respiratory acidosis, chronic compensation by the body will include:
a. kidney excretion of H+.
b. kidney excretion of HCO3.
c. prolonged exhalations to blow off CO2.
d. protein buffering.

Answer 28

a. kidney exertion of H+

Question 29

A 55-year-old female presents to her primary care provider and reports dizziness, confusion, and tingling in the extremities. Blood tests reveal an elevated pH, decreased PCO2, and slightly decreased HCO3. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation
b. Respiratory acidosis with renal compensation
c. Metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation d. Metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation

Answer 29

a. respiratory alkalosis with renal compensation

Question 30

A 60-year-old male with a 30-year history of smoking is diagnosed with a hormone-secreting lung tumor. Further testing indicates that the tumor secretes ADH. Which of the following assessment findings should the nurse expect? (select all that apply)
a. Confusion
b. Weakness
c. Nausea
d. Muscle twitching
e. Increased reflexes

Answer 30

a. confusion
b. weakness
c. nausea
d. muscle twitching